Artist News

Quantum Theory: An Interview With Soul Extract

By Leasia Korbel

Hey Josh, thanks for taking the time. I’ve been a fan since I first heard “Decryption,” (it remains an all time favorite of mine). I see in the notes you talk about “subconsciously” noticing someone from across the room, i.e. “Quantum Entanglement.” Quantum entanglement suggests that two particles can be connected across vast distances. Do you feel a similar connection with your audience when they view your art? How do you think your work influences or “entangles” with their perception of reality?

I absolutely would love for the ideas and imagery to connect with anyone who is truly “listening” and become entangled with the realization that we are all connected in a way that cant be seen, but most definitely can be felt.  There are many scientific experiments underway at the Institute of Noetic Sciences testing these types of experiences.  My hope is that science will progress into the field of consciousness and I guarantee humanity will be forever changed when that day comes.

Quantum physics isn’t a typical influence in music. How did you first get inspired by quantum theory, and how does it shape your sound?

As a kid, I always was interested in how things worked.  I took apart phones, clocks, and even my NES.  The cartridges never did go in the same after that!

This fascination led me to write my own music as well as a career in I.T.  Sadly, I didn’t really have an appreciation for quantum mechanics until later in life, but it has definitely created a new way of looking at the world and I draw very much inspiration from this new lens.

Quantum physics challenges traditional perceptions of time and space. How do you play with these ideas in your music?

One way I’ve found to look at time is the example of a human’s life.  I believe your lifetime is merely the “how” of what you are.  The various events and decisions you’ve made throughout your life. Your soul however is the eternal thing that has and always will exist.  This is the “what”.  An infinite state of being that we can’t comprehend and thus need a step-by-step playback to understand ourselves.

These types of concepts really help unfold the path to where the lyrics lead.  It is indeed difficult to write in this language and not sound cliche or cheesy, and believe me, my notebook is full of cheese ideas no one will ever see.

Your music often feels like it’s bending the rules of reality. How do you translate the abstract and complex ideas of quantum physics into your soundscapes?

Finding a parallel with the quantum nature of reality and our daily lives is usually a good method.  These are hard concepts to wrap your head around, and the science literature doesn’t do it justice, but once you “see” it the way I do, you will understand.

What’s your creative process like when you’re working on new music? Do you have any unusual rituals?

My life is so busy, I have to take inspiration wherever and whenever it lands.  Usually it’s at a time when I don’t have access to a keyboard or guitar, so I record the idea on my phone and hope I remember the emotional state of where my head was.

Strangely enough, this sometimes comes from day-to-day sounds from life that my brain transforms into musical compositions.  It’s such an odd thing, but I love when it happens. 

During a creative session, meditation is a tool I use to put my head in a clear space to allow ideas to flow, especially lyrics.

Do you ever find yourself lost in thought, pondering the nature of reality while working on a piece? If so, do you ever emerge with new artistic insights or just a headache?

Yes!  This is part of my creative process and it does lead to new ideas about how our universe operates at the quantum level.

I noticed you used violins, cellos, a lot in combination with rock. How important is the emotive element in your singles?

So I actually used to not like emotive songs all that much.  I’d usually skip over them, preferring the heavy, hard-hitting tracks instead.  But in my adult years, orchestral strings have captivated my soul with their ability to capture such deep, emotional states and that’s why I love to use them.  Hoping to one day work with real violinists on a song to give it that extra human element.

Looking ahead, are there any quantum concepts or theories that you’re excited to explore in your future music projects?

Absolutely, I plan to release at least another 8 songs focused on this.  My hope is to help others view this reality, as well as each other, through this lens.

Check out Soul Extract’s latest release “Entanglement” from his EP Chasms below!

Soul Extract, the visionary cinematic rock artist, invites listeners into a vast sonic landscape with the release of the Chasms EP, a journey through intricate emotions, human survival, and the untapped depths of the universe, out now from FiXT.

With singles “Anomaly” and “Supernova” produced by renowned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul Trust, and Brian Skeel’s collaboration on “Innerspace” the Chasms EP fuses orchestral rock, electronic elements, and raw lyrical intensity to explore themes of isolation, survival, and interconnectedness to the very desolate beauty of outer space. 

Opening with “Supernova” the EP delivers a cosmic anthem, telling the story of a human called by a supernova-born entity to leave a dying planet and create new worlds.  “Anomaly” emerges as a thought-provoking mix of heavy guitars, synths, and orchestral elements, telling the story of a lone survivor adrift in space. The single emerges as a mesmerizing blend of cerebral depth and raw beauty within the tumultuous currents of modern rock. “Innerspace” follows with a dramatic shift in perspective, diving into the microscopic world with fellow FiXT labelmate Brian Skeel. This cinematic track captures the awe-inspiring complexity of the quantum world, blending orchestral strings with chugging guitars, and Soul Extract’s dynamic vocals. “Entangled” narrated by the soul itself, delves into quantum mysticism, the song contemplates the idea of quantum entanglement as a metaphor for human connection. Science fiction and cinematic rock collide creating a rich, immersive experience that resonates across space and time.

Cerebral. Beautiful. Violent. Soul Extract taps into a wealth of human emotions and experiences to generate a listening space that is as intense and unpredictable as life itself. The highly personal inspiration for Soul Extract’s creations gives every song an invigorating level of creative clarity, and the artist’s willingness to smash through genre barriers puts him at the forefront of modern music.

Although Soul Extract’s stylistic approach fits within the broad scope of electronic rock, labels can’t begin to describe the exploratory, borderline progressive nature of the songs themselves. Josh Mullis, the architect behind Soul Extract’s elaborate compositions, brings a deconstructive mindset to his craft, tearing apart genres and fusing their most compelling elements back together to build calculated and highly detailed tracks.

This analytical approach to Soul Extract began to take shape in 2013, and after years spent synthesizing the sounds of metal, electronic, and orchestral music, the artist unleashed his fiery debut album, Circadian Algorithm. Loaded wall-to-wall with emotive vocals and explosive instrumental sections, the album has laid the foundation for a developing career with an upward trajectory.

Mullis’ passion for music began at a young age, and he has traditionally pulled from deeply personal events for his creative stimulus. Finding escape from family struggles by picking up a guitar as a teenager, Mullis discovered those early creative efforts were able to carry him through unpredictable times. As an adult, a motivating force for his music rests within humanitarian endeavors, as Mullis donates proceeds from Soul Extract to various charities.

For Mullis, music is an indescribable force capable of sparking intense emotion, and this force is the essence of an artist in its purest form. As the project name suggests, Soul Extract is Josh Mullis’ unaltered expression of himself, and his passionate approach to songwriting shines through on every track he produces.